Review: The Revenge of Seven by Pittacus Lore

The fifth and penultimate book in the New York Times bestselling I Am Number Four series! The Garde have suffered an unbearable loss. Number Five has betrayed them. Eight is gone forever. Ella has been kidnapped. The others are now scattered.

In Chicago, John makes the unlikeliest of allies: Adam, a Mogadorian who turned his back on his people. He has invaluable information about Mog technology, battle strategies, and weaknesses. Most important, he knows where to hit them: their command base near Washington, DC. During the assault, however, John and Adam learn the unimaginable truth: it is too late. The Mogadorians have commenced their ultimate invasion plans.

With a front-row seat to the impending invasion, Ella finds herself in the hands of the enemy. For some reason she’s more valuable to them alive, and they’ll stop at nothing to turn her.

Meanwhile, Six, Nine, and Marina make their way through the Florida Everglades, hot on the trail of the traitorous Five. With the development of a new Legacy, Marina finally has the power to fight back—if her thirst for revenge doesn’t consume her first.

The Garde are broken and divided once again, but they will not be defeated. As long as one still stands, the battle for Earth’s survival is not lost.

The fifth book of the Lorien legacies begins right after the events of The Fall of Five. The Garde are divided into two and it follows their adventure as they try to regroup and finally decide to take on the Mogs head on.

Of all the Lorien Legacies books, this has been my favourite. Told from the point of view of John, Six and Ella, I am glad that Lore has finally got them running towards the Mogs, bring the fight to them instead. All the Garde know that the end will most likely come sooner than later and they’ve all figured out what’s important in their lives. There are new unlikely allies, and more chimeras.

I enjoyed the action in the book. Adam and Malcom provided some guidance as to what course of action to take. And although I feel the young Gardes still keep saying that they don’t knowing what to do with their Loric artifacts and their powers, the decision to go ahead and attack the Mog was very very welcomed. This complaining has been annoying me through out the series and sometimes, all you have to to is close your eyes and jump. No more running. Finally.

There are a few other important character developments with Ella, Five, Nine, to mention a few. I was somewhat disappointed with John because I felt that he worried too much about Sara, when the girl actually told him to think of her as a soldier in battle. Kudos to Sarah for being the stronger one in their relationship. Six and Sam’s development felt a little forced. I think Lore should’ve taken more time with it. And Ella, shows wisdom beyond her age.

Lore also reveals the origins of Setrakus Ra, the extent of the Mogadorian’s influence on Earth and the history of the Loric people and Earth.

But Marina’s actions are at the center of the climax. Marina, who is usually the peaceful one, begins with an anger with Five and Setakus Ra, but ends with wanting to give Eight his peace. I love how Marina becomes intuitive, which helped guide Six’s decisions to lead their group. It is Marina’s intuition that give the book the climax.

I was a bit hesitant to get a copy of the book, because I didn’t like the previous ones so much. But the fifth book in the series is a whole lot better, for me, with the Garde sort of growing up, making the hard decisions, sacrificing and knowing that things are bigger than themselves put together. I liked how they, Six and John in particular, would put all their trust in each other, specially since both groups were separated.

Pittacus Lore likes to weave his story where the events and characters begin in different places but culminates at one point. This one is no exception. I loved how he pulls it all together in the end, like a sailor gathering strings from everywhere and knotting them together to make a strong rope. The Revenge of Seven is a wonderful read and I will be rooting for the Garde up until the last page of the last book when it comes.